Kansas State quarterback Josh Freeman combined for 329 yards of total offens and scored four touchdowns to win this week's USA TODAY's Player of the Week honor. The junior was 21-of-26 for 234 yards and run for 95 yards and four scores in a 44-30 defeat of Texas A&M.

Notre Dame is less than two years removed from back-to-back BCS appearances, but a disastrous 3-9 campaign in 2007 has Irish faithful more than a little cranky. The wins should increase this year with a more manageable schedule, and coach Charlie Weis hired defensive guru Jon Tenuta, lately of Georgia Tech.

Returning home after three tours of duty in Afghanistan, Derek Blumke was eager to return to college. But the Air Force veteran felt unwelcome at the University of Michigan as he tried alone to manage the transition from warrior to student.